James Cook - A Journal of the proceedings of His Majesty's Bark Endeavour on a voyage round the world, by Lieutenant James Cook, Commander, commencing the 25th of May 1768 - 23 Oct. 1770: No. 261

                         New Wales or East Coast of New Holland

May 1770   into the Longitude of 206 degrees 46 minutes, At this time we were about 2 or 3 Leagues from the land & in 24 fathoms Water a low bluff point which was the Southern point of an open Sandy bay bore N 62 degrees W distance 3 Leagues & the Northermost point of land in sight bore N 1/4 degrees E. Several Smokes seen today &some pretty far inland  _______________
Friday 18th   In steering along shore at the distance of 2 Leagues off our Soundings was from 24 to 32 fathoms Sandy bottom. At 6 pm the North point of land set at noon bore N 1/4 by W distance 4 Leagues; at 10 it bore NW by W 1/2 W & as we had seen no land to the Northward of it we brought too not knowing which way to steer. having at this time but little wind & continued so for the most part of the night. At 2 pm we made sail with the wind at SW & at day light we saw the land extending as far as N 3/4 E. The Point set last night bore SW by W distance 3 or 4 Leagues. I have named it Double Island Point on account of its Figure (Latitude 25 degrees 58 minutes S, Longitude 206 degrees 48 minutes W). The land within this point is is of a moderate  & pretty equal height but the point itself is of such an unequal Height that it looks like 2 Small Islands laying under the land, it likewise may be known for the White Clifts on the North side of it, here the land trends to the NW & forms a large open bay, in the bottom of which the land appear'd to be very low in so much that we could but just see it from the Deck, in crossing the Mouth of this bay our Deepth of Water was from 30 to 22 fathoms, a White sandy bottom. At Noon we where about 3 Leagues from the Land in the Latitude of 25 degrees 34 minutes Longitude 206 degrees 45 minutes W. Double Island Point bore S 3/4 W & the Northermost land in sight Latitude N 3/4 E. The land hereabouts which is of moderate height appears more barren than any we have yet seen on this Coast & the soil more sandy there being several large places where nothing Else is to be seen. In other places the woods looks to be low & Shrubby nor did we see many signs of inhabitants _____________
Saturday 19th   In the pm had variable light Airs & Calms. In the night had a light breeze from the land which in the am Veer'd to the SW & SSW in the evening found the Variation to be 8 degrees 36 minutes E & in the Morning 8 degrees 20 minutes; as we had but little wind we keep on to the Northward all night having from 23 to 27 fathoms fine sandy bottom at the Distance of 2 or 3 Leagues from the Land. At Noon we were about 4 miles from it & by observation in the Latitude of 25 degrees 4 minutes & in this situation had but 25 fathoms the Northermost land in sight bore N 21 degrees W distance 8 Miles, our Course & distance sail'd since Yesterday at Noon was N 13 degrees 15 minutes E, 31 Miles ________________
Sunday 20th  Winds Southerly Gentle breezes at 10 pm we passed at the distance of 4 Miles having 17 fathoms, a  black bluff head or point of land on which a Number of the Natives were Assembled which occasion'd my naming it Indian Head Latitude 25 degrees 0 minutes North by west 4 Miles from this head is another much like it.
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